MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
Happy Friday, Washington Democrats!
Some Good News to Highlight
Last weekend’s “Hands Off” rallies brought together hundreds of thousands of people in communities across the length and breadth of our state and nation. It was inspiring to be part of a people’s movement to reign in the unlawfulness and cruelty of the Trump administration. Seattle’s rally alone brought together approximately 25,000 people. We saw demonstrations in 39 cities across Washington. Click here or on the image below to see some of our favorite signs from across the state.
Democrats just had their best week since Election Day, Jen Psaki
My former Obama White House colleague Jen Psaki runs through the many victories Democrats won and the momentum we have built to stand up to the Trump administration. Whether it was the mass mobilizations on April 5, our victories in Wisconsin, Senator Booker’s record-breaking speech, or tremendous candidates jumping into competitive races across the country, we are mounting a strong opposition to Trump’s lawlessness.
Call to Action
- Help Save the National Endowment for the Humanities
- DOGE has begun terminating previously awarded NEH grants. Let your members of Congress know that you condemn these actions and support the National Endowment for the Humanities here.
- Share Your Small Business Story
- Trump’s policies are hurting America’s 33+ million small businesses. If you are dreaming of starting a business or already feeling the impacts of Trump’s
- Sign Up for The Blue Print
- The DNC has launched a substack called The Blue Print that will provide a weekly update on how the DNC is fighting back against Trump and his allies while working to secure Democratic victories nationwide. It’s free and useful, sign up here.
- Submit a Comment to CMS
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed a rule that would prohibit states from requiring coverage for gender-affirming care as part of their Essential Health Benefits (EHB) under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This means that starting in Plan Year 2026, states could no longer require ACA marketplace individual and small-group insurance plans to cover puberty blockers, hormone therapy, or gender-affirming surgeries as essential benefits. Use this link to submit a comment.
- Rally, Protest, and Gather
- Friday, April 25 – WA Dems People’s Town Hall at Spokane Community College. 5:30-7:30PM. Register here. See below for more details.
- Saturday, May 3 – Fuse Opposition Summit from 1PM-3PM in downtown Seattle. RSVP here.
- Every Wednesday – Time to Act volunteer trainings organized by Swing Left are hosted virtually every Wednesday from 6:30PM-7:30PM. Sign up here
- Every Wednesday – Musk or Us Protests in Redmond every Wednesday from 4PM-5PM. Sign up here
- Send us details on rallies and protests in your communities
- Email details to press@wa-democrats.org
- Email details to press@wa-democrats.org
- Donate
If you would like to see less Washington D.C. and more Washington state in your community, please DONATE to The Real Washington Fund – our rapid response account to counter MAGA’s chaos with real organizing, real solutions, and real results. We can’t do the work of holding Republicans accountable without your support. - Follow us on social media
- Follow us on social media for up-to-the-minute updates and actions that can benefit your communities:
- BlueSky
- Threads
- TikTok
Storybanking
This week, we’re getting an update on Washington’s numerous lawsuits against the Trump administration from Director of Communications Stephen Reed. Please click here or on the image below, and if YOU have a story to share, please get in touch!
The best way to persuade people about the horrible impacts of Trump’s chaos is to share real stories from real people in their communities. If you are interested in sharing your story of the direct impacts of Trump 2.0 on your life, please send an email to press@wa-democrats.org that includes your name, contact information, which Washington community you reside in, the story you would like to share, and permission to share your story with the public.
Our Communications team will be in touch within a few business days after you have reached out to help collect your story.
Working for Washington
On Wednesday, before our Yakima Town Hall, we hosted a Democratic roundtable in Wenatchee with State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti. It was wonderful to spend time listening to the ideas and grassroots energy that’s overflowing in our rural communities.
After last weekend’s mass mobilizations, we rode that energy to Yakima for a People’s Town Hall with Governor Jay Inslee and community leaders. While Republican Congressman Dan Newhouse has told the press he plans to host a Town Hall, there are no publicly announced details about when or where it will take place. So we showed him how it’s done!
It was an incredible event, and I want to thank Governor Inslee, U.S. Army Veteran Asa Washines, Registered Nurse Jacob Garcia, and Community Leader Maria Beltran for joining us and taking questions from the bipartisan audience who attended. I also want to thank the more than 200 attendees who came out to speak their minds. If you missed it, you can watch a recording of the Yakima Town Hall here.
We’re planning another Town Hall, this time in Spokane – see below for more details!
Spokane Town Hall – April 25
We are excited to invite residents in Congressional District 5 to our Spokane Town Hall! The event will be on April 25th from 5:30-7:30 PM at the Spokane Community College. We will be convening a panel of amazing speakers, including Congresswoman Emily Randall and Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown, as well as other members of the community who have been affected by the Trump Administration.
If you would like to attend, please fill out this RSVP Form and invite any community members or friends you think would be interested! This event is open to anyone, and everyone is welcome!
Republicans Behaving Badly
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the repeal of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ Biden-era “zero tolerance” policy for gun dealers – which previously revoked the licenses of gun dealers who willfully broke the law by not running background checks or falsifying their records. Read the official statement from GIFFORDS on this reckless move that will endanger lives.
Outrage from State Democrats over “hate crime” proposal, Northwest Asian Weekly Sen. Fortunato (R-Auburn) introduced an amendment to make Tesla owners a protected class of citizen under hate crimes laws. You can watch his comments here or by clicking on the image below. Read our full press release here.
Ethics complaint filed against State Sen. Emily Alvarado over rent cap bill conflict, MyNorthwest Conservative gadfly Glenn Morgan filed an ethics complaint against Sen. Alvarado because she happens to work for an organization that supports rent stabilization, and she introduced legislation to stabilize rents. Of course, no ethics complaints were filed against the multiple landlords in the state legislature who are also weighing in on this legislation.
Trump’s tariffs are already reducing car imports and idling factories, The Seattle Times
Trump’s disastrous tariff policy is wreaking havoc on the economy in total and also laying off hundreds of U.S. automobile workers.
Democrats in the News
Demócratas realizan Town Hall en Yakima y acusan a Dan Newhouse de ignorar a sus electores, Latino Herald
Transcript: Sen. Maria Cantwell on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” April 6, 2025, CBS News
In Washington, a rural county Sheriff fights his state’s immigration law, The New York Times
Washington state spud farmers will be mashed by Trump’s tariffs, Sen. Murray warns, KUOW
‘It helps to know you’re not alone’: small towns in ‘ruby-red’ counties joined Saturday’s Hands Off! Protests, The Spokesman-Review
Washington apple shipments to India fall by 99% after Trump’s tariffs announcement, King5
US appeals court blocks Trump from removing Democrats from labor boards, Reuters
House Democrats’ midterm battle plan, The Washington Post
Proposed WA tax on social media platforms would fund support for youth behavioral health, The Olympian
Scoop: Schatz expands holds to 300 Trump nominees, Axios
What I’m Watching and Reading
Democrats launch new ‘war room’ to counter Trump and Republicans, The Washington Post
I am extremely excited about the DNC’s new effort to counter the misinformation and lies coming out of the Trump administration.
Thanks for all you do,
Chair Shasti Conrad
Washington State Democratic Party
We sincerely thank you for your help and support.
Washington State Democrats PO Box 4027 Seattle, WA 98194 United States